pairing
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of putting two things together because they work well or belong together.
the combination or union of two entities, often chosen for their complementary qualities.
Simple“The chef suggested a wine pairing that would bring out the flavour of the fish.”
In context“The unexpected pairing of a classical violinist with a modern electronic producer resulted in a surprisingly cohesive and popular album.”
SynonymsAntonymsseparationdisconnection - 02 C1 Advanced
an agreement between two politicians from opposite sides to both miss a vote so the result stays the same.
a formal arrangement between two members of a legislative body with opposing views to refrain from voting, allowing both to be absent without affecting the outcome.
Simple“The two ministers arranged a pairing so they could both attend the international summit.”
In context“The government whip managed the pairing system carefully to ensure that the absence of several MPs for the funeral would not jeopardise the crucial legislation.”
UsageOften used in the context of parliamentary procedure.
Synonymsabstention agreement
“Pereira has continued to champion corn, recently making a Brazilian lemonade - which uses limes instead of lemons - and pairing it with corn milk.”
“McCarthy or the confused centre-back pairing of Caleb Okoli and Harry Souttar repeatedly gave the ball away in and around the penalty area as the team created their own problems.”